GPs reject new contract despite BMA pleas

The medical profession was thrown into confusion today when GPs refused to accept a contract negotiated by their leaders that would have increased family doctors' incomes by 26% over three years.

At a BMA conference of local medical committee chiefs, the majority demanded a six-month delay to allow renegotiation of the package.

John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA GPs' committee, apologised for mistakes in presenting the deal that caused "anxiety, frustration, fear and uncertainty."

He pleaded with delegates to reject a motion to delay a vote on the proposals for six months, giving time for revision of the deal.

Postponement of a decision would be damaging because changes in the GPs' contract needed a change in legislation: this could be done in the health bill currently before parliament, but there might not be an early legislative opportunity once the bill has passed.

He said that John Hutton, the health minister, had warned the GPs would lose three-quarters of this year's pay increase if they voted for a substantial delay.

But Fay Wilson, a leading Birmingham GP, said the contract had to be substantially renegotiated. In its present form it would divide the profession into a premier league of well-funded practices and host of losers who would never be able to catch up.

Her motion said: "Conference requires the new contract proposals to be re-examined, revised and returned to the (BMA) general practice committee or, if necessary, the local medical committee conference, for debate in six months."

In spite of ominous warnings from the BMA leadership, it passed by 139 votes to 127.

Dr Wilson subsequently proposed a rider to the motion allowing the six months to be varied if the GPs' committee recommended it. This gave some freedom of manoeuvre for the BMA leaders to get negotiations back on track.